I received the following message two weeks before my brother passed away, “pray for my friends”. My brother was diagnosed with lung cancer, 7 months prior, and I had spent a lot of time with him during this period. I have been a practicing Christian for over fifty years and raised my family in a Christian inspired home. Both my wife and I are, Born Again and when I say I am a practicing Christian, it means that I pray, read my bible, attend church and prayer meetings and trust The Lord with my life.
My brother’s life was different. He did not attend church, although his wife did and most of his life, outside of work, was spent with his friends. At one point his daughter, who was in high school at the time, said that I was her father. She was ashamed of his life style. He and his wife were separated for awhile but he continued his life style of drinking even when they were reconciled.
His lungs only had 60 percent capacity prior to being diagnosed with cancer. He had pulmonary fibrosis. He tried to work through his illness because they were treating him for pneumonia. Then came the cancer diagnosis.
We recognized that there was not much that could be done with treatment but they tried chemo and radiation. During his sickness I had opportunity to pray with him, he was anointed with oil and our pastors and others prayed for his healing. I believed that God could heal him and truthfully I thought he would.
Two weeks before his passing, I gave him Steps To Peace With God by Billy Graham Ministries. He had always requested that I pray for him and to make sure that others were praying for him but two days after I gave him the booklet, he sent me a message, “pray for my friends.” I knew that he had made the decision to accept Christ as his savior.
It was on a Sunday morning that the family were called to the hospital. He had been take there by ambulance on Saturday morning. I spend time with him, before he passed and asked how he was in his soul. His breathing was labored but he nodded yes and gave me the thumbs up. He passed away about an hour later.
One of his friends told me, at a gathering a few days later, ” you prepared him to die.” This was humbling.
Pray For Your Friends
Steve
Pray for My Friends
Lord, today I lift my friends in prayer,
Each burden they carry, each weight that’s there.
You know their struggles, both seen and unseen,
The silent tears, the spaces between.
Be near to the weary, the hurting, the worn,
Bring hope to their night, joy with the morn.
Where fear has settled, let peace take its place,
Where strength is depleted, renew them with grace.
Guide every step they’re unsure how to take,
Heal what is broken, mend hearts that ache.
Surround them with mercy, steady and true,
Remind them they’re held, —by You.
Lord, bless my friends with Your presence each day,
Keep them in love as I pray this prayer.